Where The Light Goes – English Lyrics

• By: Matchbox Twenty
• Album: Where The Light Goes

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Matchbox Twenty's reflective track, "Where The Light Goes," and explore themes of longing and searching for inner peace. This song offers a poignant look at relationships and personal growth, providing listeners with an opportunity to connect with the music on an emotional level.

[English]

Can you tell me where the light goes

Every time your eyes close?

If it's there, then it doesn't show

Tell me where the light goes

I wanna know

...

Oh, can you tell me why the room dims

Every time you leave it?

And I'm a shadow of a heartbreak

And a ghost of all the endings

All I wanna know

I wanna know

'Cause I burn like fire

And I walk on wires

If I lose myself

Just meet me part of the way

Part of the way

Oh, will you tell me where the light goes

Every time your eyes close?

If it's there, then it doesn't show

Ah, tell me where the light goes

There's a feeling that I don't get

When I'm reeling from the night sweats

Take a roll around a cigarette

And I still don't feel quite like me yet

'Cause I burn like fire

And I walk on wires

And I lose myself

When you just give it away

Give it away

Oh, will you tell me where the light goes

Every time your eyes close?

There's a wall that was a window

Tell me where the light goes

All I wanna know

I don't wanna lose my place

I'm still afraid

Pray to the gods that bring down the endings

I think I get it, but I don't understand

How it can blind me

And then it's over

Will you tell me where the light goes

Every time your eyes close?

If it's there, then it doesn't show

Tell me where the light goes

Tell me where the light goes

Yes, tell me where the light goes

There's a wall that was a window

Ah, tell me where the light goes

All I wanna know

I wanna know

I wanna know

I wanna know

Tell me where the light goes

Tell me where the light goes

Tell me where the light goes

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Can you tell me where the light goes

  ➔ Modal verb ‘can’ + indirect question ‘where the light goes’

  ➔ The word "can" expresses ability or permission in a question, and "where the light goes" is an indirect question functioning as the object of "tell".

• If it's there, then it doesn't show

  ➔ Zero conditional: if‑clause + present simple, result clause with present simple negative

  ➔ The word "If" introduces a condition that is generally true; both "is" and "doesn't show" are in the present simple tense.

• I wanna know

  ➔ Informal contraction ‘wanna’ = want to + infinitive verb

  ➔ "Wanna" is a colloquial reduction of "want to"; the infinitive "know" follows it.

• I'm a shadow of a heartbreak

  ➔ Linking verb ‘am’ + predicative noun phrase

  ➔ "I'm" contracts "I am"; the verb "am" links the subject "I" with the complement "a shadow of a heartbreak".

• And I walk on wires

  ➔ Simple present tense + prepositional phrase ‘on wires’

  ➔ "walk" is in the simple present, indicating a habitual action; "on wires" tells where the action occurs.

• When you just give it away

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time introduced by ‘when’ + simple present

  ➔ "When" introduces a time clause; the verb "give" stays in the simple present because the clause refers to a repeated or general situation.

• There's a wall that was a window

  ➔ Existential ‘there’s’ + noun phrase + relative clause ‘that was a window’

  ➔ "There's" is short for "there is" and introduces the existence of something; "that was a window" is a relative clause describing "wall".

• I don't wanna lose my place

  ➔ Negative auxiliary ‘do not’ + informal ‘wanna’ = want to + infinitive ‘lose’

  ➔ "Don't" negates the verb phrase; "wanna" stands for "want to", followed by the infinitive "lose".

• How it can blind me

  ➔ Indirect question introduced by ‘how’ + modal verb ‘can’ + base verb ‘blind’

  ➔ "How" begins an indirect question; "can" expresses possibility, and "blind" is the base form of the verb following the modal.